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courtesy of Hope Gilsinger
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For many years religious services were conducted in Chichester
by a Methodist circuit rider. In the course of time this proved itself
an inefficient pastorate and Mr. William O. Schwarzwaelder, proprietor
of the factory, village and church building brought the church under the
care of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He renovated and remodeled the
building and as representative of the congregation on September 23, 1898
applied for admission to the Archdeaconry of Orange. Clergymen were supplied
from week to week from November 16, 1898 to February, 1899.
From February to
May, 1899 the Rev. W. G. Dickenson, M.D. was settled as resident missionary.
Rev. Arthur W. Shaw succeeded him on June 1, 1899.
The church was named
"St. Paul's" by Mr. and Mrs. W.O.S. in honor of their Flatbush,
L.I. home church.
On June 4, 1899 the
Sunday School had 34 scholars and 6 teachers. By July 23, 1899 there
were 64 scholars and 10 teachers.
Mr. Shaw apparently
worked hard. He and his wife initiated church study groups, sewing classes
and so on. Success was intermittent. He had 6 families with whom he
conversed only in German.
In 1900 the Easter
services were largely attended, and a social party in the Fire House was
a "great success". The money received on this occasion was
used to help the Negroes in S.C. where Archdeacon Joyner served.
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wedding circa 1960
(Emily Osborne is far right)
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But on June 20, 1900 Mr. Shaw
wrote that "the really and wisely religious people attend our church
and are attached to it. Those who prefer the ministrations of the Wesleyan
body find gratification and excitement in their own chapel. The irreligious
are irreligious still. Pre-school children are learning and forming habits
of true religious exercise in our church and Sunday School. We are in
the position of giving much good to those who will come and take it.
Those who have eyes to see perceive this fact."
St. Paul's welcomed
attendance of members of other churches. In 1898 one Sunday there were
11 communicants (2 were visitors). Nine denominations "were present
at the rail" : Protestant Episcopal; Presbyterian; Methodist Episcopal;
Wesleyan, and Roman Catholic.
Mr. Shaw started
a "class in pedagogy keeping religious instruction directly in mind.
It failed to attract and arouse the public."
"A boys' club
was started. It did some good in teaching the barest elements of parliamentary
procedure. It utterly refused to lend itself to intellectual exercises."
On July 1, 1901 he
wrote, "during the last 10 months the work has gone quietly forward.
---- A missionary in Pennsylvania wrote to The Church Steward
an account of his experiences which correspond exactly in all the large
features with our own here. That is, people are friendly and join in
projects but lose interest as the novelty wears off. A faithful few are
different."
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Christmas 1898
courtesy of Charles Zimmerman
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Apparently the Schwarzwaelders
did what they could with effort, interest and money to help the church
and the community in general.
{Nov. 27. I wrote the foregoing
10 days ago and since have been trying to find a definite record re the
demise of the Episcopal Church in Chichester and its replacement by the
Baptist.}
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